Hungarian christian-democrats breaks ties with Dutch CDA

By Janene Pieters on June 5, 2018 - 12:10
File-Sybrand_van_Haersma_Buma_2012
CDA leader Sybrand Buma

The Fidesz party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban broke ties with the CDA. Over the weekend the CDA adopted a motion to remove its Hungarian sister party from the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, which both parties belong to, if the Hungarians do not keep to European standards and values. The Hungarians now accuse the CDA of spreading lies, the Volkskrant reports.

On Monday Fidesz released a statement saying that the CDA is spreading lies about a controversial package of new measures the Hungarian government wants to implement. According to the party, the CDA falsely suggests that these measures are dangerous to democracy and the rule of law. "It is not true that Fidesz turned against European cooperation. "It is not true that Fidesz spread fake news and facts during the campaign. It is not true that the head of Fidesz promised to take revenge on the opposition parties" , the statement reads. 

FIdesz demands apologies from the Netherlands. The ties between the two parties will remain broken until apologies are made. The Hungarian party called it "extremely sad" that a "well reputed party" like the CDA "violates the Christian democratic alliance" in this way. "We could assume that this is only a misunderstanding", the party wrote, but everything points to it being "lies on purpose". Fidesz also said that CDA leader Sybrand Buma met with Orban last month, and did not mention any of his concerns. "All these questions could have been raised and answered."

According to the Volkskrant, the problems between these two parties stem from a controversial package of measures Oban announced after his election victory in April. The Hungarian government wants to make it illegal to offer aid to migrants who do not have to fear prosecution in their home country or entered Hungary illegally. This legislative proposal will be debated in Budapest this week. 

The CDA resolution in question was drawn up by the Zuid-Holland department of the party and adopted unchanged on Saturday. It states that in the past Fidesz "deliberately misinterpreted facts" during national campaigns, and that the "tone" of the party has become increasingly anti-European. In this way Fidesz "undermines" the "party values" of the EPP. The CDA wants to discuss this with Fidesz. If these consultations do not have the desired effect, Fidesz must leave the EPP. 

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